Just bought a new home? Had a flatmate move out? Or maybe you've simply lost track of how many copies of your house key are floating around out there. Whatever the reason, rekeying your house is one of the smartest and most cost-effective ways to take back control of your home security. But what does it actually cost — and is it worth it compared to replacing your locks entirely? Let's break it down.
What does it mean to rekey a house?
Rekeying is the process of changing the internal pins and springs inside a lock cylinder so that the old key no longer works, and a new key operates it instead. The lock housing stays in place — only the internal configuration changes. This means your door hardware looks exactly the same from the outside, but any old keys floating around are instantly useless.
It's different from replacing a lock, where the entire lock body is swapped out for a new one. Rekeying is faster, cheaper, and perfectly sufficient in most situations — unless the lock itself is worn, damaged, or you want to upgrade to a different style or security grade.
Typical cost to rekey a house in Melbourne
In Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs, including McKinnon, Bentleigh, Ormond, and Brighton, here's what you can expect a professional locksmith to charge for a standard house rekey:
Prices are indicative as of 2026. Actual cost depends on lock type, number of locks, keyway complexity, and your location. Always ask for a firm quote before work begins.
Factors that affect the cost
- Number of locks. The biggest factor. Most Melbourne homes have 3–5 external doors. More locks = more time, but the per-lock cost drops after the first one since the locksmith is already on site.
- Lock type & keyway. A standard pin-tumbler cylinder is straightforward. High-security restricted keyways (like BiLock, Lockwood Twin, or Abloy Protec) take longer and cost more — but they offer far better key control.
- Keyed-alike vs keyed-different. If you want all your external doors to work on the same key (keyed alike), the locksmith configures every cylinder to the same pin pattern. This is standard and usually included. Keying each door differently costs more.
- Time of day. Standard business hours (Mon–Fri 9–5) are the cheapest. After-hours, weekend, and emergency callouts attract a surcharge — but it's still cheaper than replacing all your locks.
- Your location. If you're in McKinnon, Bentleigh, Ormond, or Brighton, you're close to our shop — so the callout fee is minimal. Further from our base adds a small travel surcharge.
Rekeying vs replacing: which do you need?
Most of the time, rekeying is all you need. It's faster (under an hour for a full house), more affordable, and leaves your existing hardware intact. But there are times when replacing the lock makes more sense:
- The lock is physically worn, sticky, or hard to turn
- You want to upgrade from a basic lock to a high-security deadbolt
- You're switching to a smart lock or keyless entry system
- The lock body is damaged or has been tampered with
- You want to change the look or finish of your door hardware
A good locksmith will inspect your locks before quoting and tell you honestly whether rekeying is sufficient — we don't upsell replacements when they're not needed.
When should you rekey your house?
The most common triggers for a house rekey:
- Just bought a new home. You have no idea who the previous owners gave keys to — family, cleaners, tradies, neighbours. Every new homeowner should rekey on day one.
- Tenant or flatmate moved out. Even if they handed their keys back, copies may exist. Rekey and issue fresh keys to the remaining occupants.
- Lost keys or stolen handbag/wallet. If your keys are missing and your address is on anything in the bag, rekey immediately.
- After a break-in or attempted break-in. Even if nothing was taken, rekey the affected locks and consider upgrading to higher-security hardware.
- You've lost track. Given keys to dog walkers, babysitters, tradespeople over the years? If you can't say with confidence exactly who holds a key to your home, it's time.
Get a firm quote from a McKinnon locksmith
Rekeying is one of those jobs that sounds technical but is routine for a professional locksmith. Done right, it takes under an hour and gives you complete control over who can open your front door. Done wrong, or left undone, it's a security gap you don't want to think about at 2 a.m.
If you're in McKinnon, Bentleigh, Ormond, Brighton, or anywhere in Melbourne's south-east and you're ready to rekey your home, give King Kobbler a call on 0413 350 744 or drop into the shop at 121 McKinnon Rd. We'll give you a firm, upfront quote — no callout fee shock, no surprises.